THE SUMMIT

The Centre du luxe et de la création fosters rich, original, and cross-boundary thinking by gathering people from diverse backgrounds together at the Summit of the Centre du luxe et de la création. This annual event provides an opportunity for open exchanges and gathers emblematic designers, entrepreneurs, investors in the luxury sector, policy makers, research officials, sociologists, philosophers and members of the press. A much-anticipated annual assembly, the Summit stimulates ideas, projects and trends that intensely nurture the development of the luxury world.

PROGRAM: LUXURY NEW VALUES

More than ever, luxury has to keep capturing the imagination to sustain its growth. The symbolic aspect of the product as well as the experience of purchasing and using it are thus essential today to build value: the added value of luxury can only be built according to the perceived value.

During the 16th Luxury summit, we’ll explore the meaning of the value (and values) of Luxury in the endeavor to raise its stature. Indeed, customers want everything: a luxury that is surprising and creative but in which at the same time they have a role to play. They want a luxury at the cutting-edge of progress and technology, but hand-made with the greatest respect for humanity, in both production and service.

How then to reconcile these new paradoxes of luxury, these renewed values that tomorrow’s luxury will have to convey?

The high stakes of creating value in 2018

Even though products still stand at the heart of value creation in luxury, they are no longer enough to carry the value of brands. We must now account for the purchasing experience and the bonds between brands and their customers. How can we create value today? What are the main changes in the business models of luxury? How to keep creating desire in an overexposed and increasingly competitive market?

A luxury committed to ethics and moral values

The moral contradiction of luxury is that it is at the same time extravagant spending and a sign of permanence. But, as a consequence, luxury has to be exemplary in order to seduce. How is this achieved? Indeed, sustainability and corporate responsibility issues have been debated for 20 years, and each brand has found its own path. What are the commitments of brands and the CSR strategies? What will be the impact on luxury?

The store of the future or the new values of (r)etail

The distribution of luxury is evolving very rapidly: brands are now aware of the power of e-commerce and are eager to sustain and grow their Internet presence. What will be the future of retail and e-commerce? Personalized services, augmented experience, process simplification? What will be the new balance between wholesale and retail? What are the best practices in the matter? Is luxury moving toward retailtainment or art?

Perceived values and changing society

For a while, Luxury has been perceived as a market driven by supply. But things are changing: consumers are taking over via social networks and increased participation. Luxury must now lead a “customer centric” revolution. Should the brands adapt their values to answer the new needs and desires of consumers? What are the new consumption behaviors in Luxury for younger generations and what are the responses of the brands?

SPEAKERS

Patrick Chalhoub, Co-CEO of Chalhoub Group

Patrick began his career in 1979 when he decided to become involved in the realisation of his father’s vision to build a bridge between the East and West and be the ambassador of luxury lifestyle in the region. He created a regional distribution platform in the Jebel Ali Free zone with Fendi, L’Oréal, Dior Parfums and Puig. As the director of Christofle and of Bernardaud, Patrick Chalhoub is also involved in the strategic planning for the restructuring and redeployment of these brands. For nearly 30 years, Patrick has been fully involved in the strategic development of the business to guarantee its long-term success. As such, he continues to expand the Group’s distribution, retail business, marketing and communication activities and is also eager to strengthen the Group’s support services in terms of offer and skills. He has been instrumental in guiding the development of a sustainability strategy for the Group, with a focus on Education, Environmental and Humanitarian sustainability. At the age of 42 the French government awarded him with the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite. Patrick is also Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur since January 2016.

He is a founding member of the Rotary and Capital Club and an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He also co-chairs the board of directors of Endeavor’s UAE affiliate. Patrick holds 2 Bachelor’s degrees, one in Economics and Finance and the other in Political Science.

Laurent Boillot, CEO of Guerlain

Laurent Boillot joined Guerlain in 2002 as Deputy Managing Director in charge of Marketing. In 2005 he is appointed Managing Director in charge of International Marketing and Guerlain’s Swiss Subsidiary. In October 2007 he is appointed President and CEO of Guerlain. Since January 2014 he is also Executive VP of Make Up For Ever and President and CEO of a new LVMH cosmetics venture, Cha Ling.

Laurent, 51, graduated from the ESC French Business School in Rouen. His career began in 1988 at the Havas Advertising Group. In 1990 he joined the Unilever Group, working within the Elida Fabergé division, where he held increasingly senior roles within the marketing division. Prior to joining Guerlain, he held the position of European Marketing and Development Director for Haircare.

Jean-Claude Biver, President of the watches division of LVMH Group

Jean-Claude Biver is one of those rare men who have genuinely left their mark on Swiss watchmaking. Having obtained his HEC (University of Lausanne Business School) diploma, he settled in Le Brassus. His time spent in the Joux Valley, the cradle of fine watchmaking, had a decisive impact on his life. He seized the unique opportunity of a year’s « all-rounder » training offered to him by Audemars Piguet in 1975, after which he concentrated on sales and marketing. During that year, he was immersed in all aspects of the business, which enabled him to acquire a deep knowledge of the watchmaking art. In 1980, he left Audemars Piguet to join Omega as gold products manager. In 1982, he and his friend Jacques Piguet bought the Blancpain name which had been dormant since 1961. Using the slogan « Since 1735 there has never been a quartz Blancpain, and there never will be », he quickly revived the company and increased the turnover to 50 million Swiss francs. Within a few years, the brand was competing with the biggest names in watchmaking. However, in 1992 he decided to sell Blancpain to the SMH Group (later to become the Swatch Group) and joined Nicolas G. Hayek’s management team. As a member of the Swatch Group’s Management Committee, he was given the task of developing the marketing and products for the Omega brand, a company he had left ten years earlier. The Omega revival was impressive, focusing in particular on the development of new products and the recruitment of famous names such as Cindy Crawford, Michael Schumacher, James Bond – alias 007 – and Pierce Brosnan. At the end of 2003, he took over the leadership of a small business founded in 1980: Hublot Geneva. In 2004, as CEO he achieved the tour de force of launching a revolutionary chronograph: the Big Bang. Unveiled at BaselWorld 2005, it was an immediate success. Mr Biver has been appointed President of the Watches Division, LVMH Group in January, 2014, and overviews TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith companies.

Sabina Belli, CEO of Pomellato Group

An Italian national, Sabina Belli started her career in advertising within the global communications group WPP, more particularly at Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam where she managed several product-oriented accounts from 1983 to 1991. She joined L’Oréal Luxe in 1991 first as Product Manager for the Helena Rubinstein brand and then International Brand Manager for the Giorgio Armani fragrances, from 1994 to 1996. She moved to the LVMH Group in 1996 where she was successively International Brand Director for the Christian Dior Parfums, Image and Marketing Director for LVMH Moët Hennessy, before working as International Brand Manager for Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin from 2009 to 2012. Sabina Belli then became Brand Executive Vice President of Bulgari in 2012, before joining the Kering Group as General Manager for the Pomellato brand in April 2015.

Stephen Lussier, Executive VP-Marketing of De Beers Group and CEO of Forevermark

Stephen Lussier is the CEO of Forevermark, he is also Executive Vice President of Marketing of The De Beers Group of Companies and a member of The Group Executive Committee.
After working for the De Beers advertising agency in the US, N.W Ayer, in New York, Stephen joined the De Beers Consumer Marketing Division in London in 1985 as the Market Controller for the US and Canada. He then served as Market Controller in Japan from 1989 to 1991 and Regional Director for Asia Pacific from 1991 to 1993, before being appointed Director of the De Beers Consumer Marketing Division in 1993, where he oversaw the launch of diamond marketing into the China & India markets. Stephen was appointed as a DTC (Diamond Trading Company) Director in 1995, and joined the DTC Executive Committee with responsability for External and Corporate Affairs.

Stephen took up the role of Chief Executive Officer, Forevermark and Executive Vice President – Marketing, De Beers Group, in 2009. He has also been appointed Chairman of the Diamond Producers Association in 2015. Since taking on the role of CEO at Forevermark, Stephen Lussier has seen Forevermark grow into a truly global brand. Forevermark is present in 38 markets, with more than 2,000 retail stores across five continents.

Alessandro Bastagli, CEO of Shanghaï Tang

Aurélie Picaud, Timepieces Director of Fabergé

Aurélie Picaud is an experienced product manager, with a passion for the world of timepieces. Her professional experience spans 13 years with key roles at Swatch Group, Omega and Audemars Piguet, where she developed strategies to launch now iconic product lines. A graduate of ITECH Engineering School in Lyon, she has worked in France Germany, Switzerland and the UK. Aurélie joined Fabergé in November 2013 and has since been instrumental in strenghtening Fabergé’s timepieces category, developing and launching four timepiece collections in partnership with leading Swiss master watchmakers.

Isabelle Capron, VP of Icicle Shanghai Fashion Group and CEO of the Design Center of Paris

Bruno-Roland Bernard, Group communication Director of Yoox Net-a-porter group

Bruno-Roland Bernard graduated from the ESSEC Business School in Paris in 1988. He brings a wealth of international experience in the areas of corporate, brand and financial communications having worked in London, Germany, Hong Kong, New York and Paris for companies including Paribas, the French Navy, Vivendi, Universal and Valeo. In 2006 he became Group Communications Director for LVMH, until 2016. Bruno-Roland Bernard joined YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP in March 2016 as Corporate and Financial Communications Director, immediately taking a seat on the Group’s Executive Team. Bruno is responsible for the development and execution of YNAP’s communications strategies, as well as guiding coordination and collaboration across its stores’ communications-focused teams.

Partner at The Boston Consulting Group

Olivier Abtan is a Partner and Managing Director at the Paris office of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Olivier is today leading the global BCG Fashion & Luxury sector where he spends most of his time with clients throughout the world. His clients include global Luxury Maisons, fashion brands and retail chains.

Olivier advises CEOs and leadership teams across a range of topics surrounding growth, international expansion, marketing effectiveness, organization and processes optimization. He also managed various retail due diligences in Europe (watches, apparel, shoes, glasses, cosmetics, food, home decoration etc).

He holds a master in engineering from the “Ecole Centrale Paris” (1997) and joined the Paris office of The Boston Consulting Group in 1999.

Antoinette Lemens, CEO of Lemensearch

Born in Holland and dual English and Norwegian nationality, I studied in Belgium, Spain and England. I began my career working for a design agency in London before joining the Concept Group here in Paris. For 4 years I was responsible for visual identity and brand communication for the international Kenzo account.
I then became managing director of the international group Novamark before creating my own recruitment agency Jobs in Creation, specialised in design and marketing jobs within the creative sector. In 2004 the recruitment agency became part of the worldwide Aquent recruitment group, where I was given the responsibility of International Accounts Director. In 2009 I left the Aquent Group and set up a new recruitment agency in 2010, Antoinette Lemens Executive Search. Throughout my career I have hired many different profiles for France and Europe’s top design agencies and international companies: Executive Design Director for Renault, Lighting Design Director for Philips Holland, Visual Identity and Communications Director for the group “La Poste” or an entire recruitment project for a new luxury goods company setting-up a new branch in the Middle-East.
I have also been actively involved with the French Design community for over 20 years in my role as General Secretary for the Design & Communication Association, which regroups over 25 of Paris’ top design agencies.

Massimo Fubini, Founder and CEO of Contactlab

Massimo began his career in new media in 1995. Three years later, he founded the company and is recognized as one of the most important internet entrepreneurs in Italy. He was Technical Internet Manager of the Minitry of Transport’s military data center and external advisor to the working group on network security problems for Public Administration at AIPA (now DigitPA). He was a member of the Audiweb Technical Committee for seven years and a web consultant for AssoComunicazione. He has taken part in numerous conferences, workshops, radio broadcasts as an opinion leader on the subject of direct marketing and privacy.

Rahul-Mishra, CEO of Rahul Mishra

Rahul Mishra, Winner of the International Woolmark Prize 2014, champions slow fashion with traditional Indian textiles. His eponymous label represents the finest handwork – hand woven, hand embroidered and hand crafted – Made in India, for the world. In a very short span Rahul has attracted the admiration of fashion’s most influential personalities; International Fashion Editor of Vogue, Suzy Menkes, an avid follower of his work, regards him a “national treasure” while the late Franca Sozzani has praised him as “successfully highlighting the best and most peculiar features of his homeland.” Amongst his many accolades, Rahul has been featured on the global influential list of ‘BoF 500’ for 4 years consecutively and more recently in GQ’s Power list of ‘50 Most Influential Indians’. A master storyteller, Rahul Mishra weaves stories of people, places and process to bring forth newer interpretations and design interventions to craft techniques that serve the larger purpose of engaging, employing and empowering artisans. Rahul Mishra showcases his ready-to-wear line in the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week, and his annual couture collection at India Couture Week. The brand retails through some of the best stores globally and recently opened its first flagship store in New Delhi in July 2017.

Aline Asmar d'Amman, CEO of Culture in Architecture

Crédit photo Pascal Dangin

Born in Beirut in the 70s, Aline Asmar d’Amman naturally turned to architecture in a country of rebirth and reconstruction. Conceived as a spiritual journey steeped in the bedrock of knowledge inviting the quest of awakening, her final studies project was awarded both the prizes of the Ministry of Culture and the Order of Architects and Engineers of Beirut. In 2011, Aline Asmar d’Amman founded Culture in Architecture in Beirut and Paris, with the deep belief in the power of beauty to elevate the soul and provoke addictive memories of places, in the fields of architecture, interiors, furniture design and artistic direction. Seeking spaces with an intense resonance, Culture in Architecture cultivates narrative statements born from tensed dialogs between the raw and the precious, with a specific attention to the use of primary stones and handcrafted materials, heritage and innovation, borrowing constant inspiration from the art and fashion world to every creative expression. Culture in Architecture believes in bridging cultures and their know how with a forward thinking re-interpreting the past to the future. Culture in Architecture is currently involved in projects ranging from luxury hospitality to private residential, furniture design and scenography such as the art direction of Hotel de Crillon’s decoration, a collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld on his ‘Grand Apartments’ decor, the interior design of the palace’s historical salons and suites, the transformation of an English office building into an urban boutique Hôtel in the heart of London, the soft refurbishment of Bahrain’s airport arrival terminal, the development of a line of furniture and the interior design of private residences in Europe and the Middle East.

SPONSORS

You want to become a sponsor of the Centre du luxe et de la création and develop the awareness of your brand among luxury’s actors, position your company as a actor of prescription and reflexion among the sector and increase your media and institutional presence?

The Centre du luxe et de la création offers its partners to valorize their event and BtoB communication through its prestigious meetings that gather luxury’s main actors.

For further information, please get in touch with Julie El Ghouzzi, managing director of Centre du luxe et de la création, au 01 56 58 50 74 or by email at : julie.elghouzzi@centreduluxe.com.